Lahaina

In the Hawaiian indigenous language, “kipuka” is a word that refers to a time of regrowth, and it is a word that encapsulates the West Maui neighborhood of Launiupoko following the devastating wildfires that struck the island beginning in August 2023. It is estimated that more than 2,200 buildings were destroyed, including residential buildings and historical landmarks. The cost of the catastrophe has been estimated to be over $5 billion and more than 100 deaths. While the loss is nearly incomprehensible, the Hawaiian spirit of kipuka is even greater than the degree of destruction. And as the west coast of Maui begins the arduous task of recovering and rebuilding, the Launiupoko neighborhood is leading the charge. One example of the indomitable spirit that pervades the island is the reopening of Launiupoko Beach Park, which reopened to the public sooner than expected thanks to the combined efforts of more than 600 town employees who worked to clear debris from the beach. “Launiupoko Beach Park is a real highlight of the neighborhood,” says Realtor Jordan Kamikawa, a Maui native who has been representing real estate transactions in the area for 10 years. “It’s a really popular spot for beginner or intermediate surfers because of its gentle rolling waves." Park-goers will find multiple outlets for surfboard rentals, and parents love the beach for the saltwater wading pool created by a large stone jetty protecting the coastline, as well as the park’s outdoor shower facilities. Further inland, an abundance of farms populate the area, including Maui Mist Gardens, where they produce “dirt-to-bar” chocolate from their own cacao trees on land that is also home to a bonsai nursery, a botanical garden and the studio of Impressionist artist Ann Pistillo. Homes here are built to take advantage of incredible natural surroundings, especially the vast Pacific Ocean that stretches out from the coast. “Launiupoko is situated at the beginning of West Maui and you’ll find that most of the residential properties here are perched on the mountainside to offer breathtaking panoramic ocean and inter-island views,” says Realtor Jordan Kamikawa, a Maui native who has been representing real estate transactions in the area for 10 years. Those views come with a significant price tag, however. The median price of real estate in Launiupoko is $4.15 million, and buyers can expect to pay an average of $2195 per square foot. A two-bedroom/two-bathroom ohana (cottage) home can sell for $1.6 million and prices can go up to over $8 million for a spacious four-bedroom/six-bathroom ranch-style home on a 7-acre lot. Homebuyers new to the Hawaii real estate market need to be aware of what are commonly referred to as CPR properties, as they appear with a high degree of frequency in listings in the state. Simply put, a CPR is a Condominium Property Regime, which means that the home is classified as a condominium. However, this does not necessarily mean the building is part of a complex. Rather, it means that a house, for example, has been divided into multiple smaller units – each its own – and each of those units is listed for sale. The buyer gets full ownership rights and obligations of a specific unit, and the multiple units share things like parking areas or the yard. This is a common occurrence in Hawaii due to the fact that the price of land is so expensive. Launiupoko is districted to the Hawaii Department of Education, which earns an overall rating of B-plus from Niche. Students can attend Princess Nahienaena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High School. Princess Nahienaena earns a C rating from Niche, Lahaina Intermediate earns a C-plus and Lahainaluna earns a B-minus. In addition to a rigorous academic curriculum, students at Lahainaluna High School can participate in any of over 20 school-sponsored clubs and they have the opportunity to play 21 different varsity-level sports. Alternatively, parents can avail themselves of multiple private school options on Maui, including the nearby Maui Preparatory Academy, rated the best private school in Maui County by Niche, which gives the school an A-plus rating. Due to the closure of most of the town of Lahaina following the wildfire, grocery shopping requires a drive to Safeway just north of Laihana, 5 miles away. For other shopping, locals make the 20-mile drive to Kahului, which is home to Target, Home Depot and other retailers. And when dining out is on the menu, a local favorite is the Maui Breakfast Food Truck in Launiupoko, home of 50-cent coffees and a $5 classic Hawaiian breakfast of eggs, rice and a choice of spam, ham or sausage. And for local favorites, Eating Local in Lahaina is a popular choice that has reopened since the fire and is currently serving breakfast and lunch in their signature casual setting.

Ka'anapali's 3-mile stretch of white beaches and crystal blue water is a magnet for tourists and residents alike, and much of the area's real estate consists of vacation and second homes. Primarily developed in the 1960s as a resort area, this West Maui village still maintains that quality but continues to experience change. The August 2023 wildfires in Lahaina – immediately south of Ka'anapali – have negatively impacted the local population and put unique pressure on the housing market in the area. "We're seeing this really turn into a buyer's market as a result of the fires. The percentage increase of months' supply for condos is up 230% since January 2023," says Bonnie McCrystal, Broker at Keller Williams Realty Maui-I and former Ka'anapali resident. "The natural beauty is still there. The beaches are drop-dead gorgeous." High-rise hotels and condos sit along Ka'anapali Beach, and sloping, green agricultural terrain and golf courses sit behind the waterfront properties. In the resort area, Whaler Condominium and Ka'anapali Ali'i are the two buildings with full-ownership units, where one-bedroom units cost between $1 million and $3 million. Properties like the Ka'anapali Royal and Maui Eldorado behind the golf course are slightly more affordable, with one-bedrooms for between $600,000 and $1 million. Fractional ownership, timeshares and "condotels" (privately owned condo buildings managed as a hotel) are also common property ownership arrangements for condos in Ka'anapali. Many of Ka'anapali's sprawling single-family homes feature red tile roofs and solar panels. They cost between $2 million and $8 million. These single-family homes cannot be rented out short-term; renters must sign at least a 6-month lease term. On the other hand, condos in Ka'anapali are often privately owned and rented out short-term to tourists. The Maui Planning Commission is discussing a total ban on short-term rentals in Maui, including Ka'anapali, in response to 3,500 lost housing units in the Lahaina fires that contributed to an ongoing housing shortage. As of June 2024, the City Council has not reached a decision, but this ruling would revoke short-term rental licenses for apartment-zoned units. "They do want to drive down prices. The median household price is just over $1.3 million, and it shows no sign of slowing down," McCrystal says. Ka'anapali's location makes it vulnerable to coastal flooding, and although Ka'anapali's developments and landscape were not severely affected by the wildfires, it's less than 2 miles north of the hardest-hit areas. Ka'anapali was closed to visitors after the fire until it reopened in October 2023. "Everyone is more aware how devastating the threat of wildfires is [since the fires]," McCrystal says. "With how dry it is, all it takes is one wind." Gina Parola, broker at Keller Williams Realty Maui-I and lifelong resident, notes that the north side of Ka'anapli is windier than the south side. "North and south Ka'anapali are separated by Black Rock. You're a bit closer to the golf courses, and you're more protected from the prevailing trade winds in the south," she says. Ka'anapali's pristine stretch of beach offers activities year-round, including snorkeling, swimming, boating and cliff diving off Black Rock. After a long day outside, visitors and locals take in the view: "Because we're facing west, we have year-round sunsets at the beach," Parola says. Lucky viewers may even spot humpback whales on the horizon: "We're right off Lahaina, which has the humpback whale sanctuary. We have whales that migrate from Alaska, and they have their babies." For more recreation, Ka'anapali Golf Courses has 36 holes with ocean views. "Some of the traditions you have here are on Black Rock. The Sheraton has a tradition where they have a nightly ceremony with a cliff diver who goes and dives off each night," Parola says. This ritual calls back to Black Rock's history as the place Hawaiian Chief Kahekili dove in the 1700s. Whalers Village has more attractions for islanders, including charter cruises, hula and ukelele lessons, and Tommy Bahama Movie nights every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Whalers Village is an open-air mall just off the beach in Ka'anapali with nearly 80 shopping and dining options. The plaza has restaurants like Monkeypod Kitchen, which serves Hawaiian dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, and Maui Poke, a casual spot serving fresh poke bowls and sushi. Boutiques and shops at the plaza include Billabong, Quicksilver and Oakley. For essentials, visitors and locals can visit Whalers General Store for quick trips or drive a couple of miles south into Lahaina to shop at Safeway and Walgreens. "People on the west side [of Maui] tend to stay on the west side. People don't really commute as they do on the mainland: that's the 'Polynesian paralysis' setting in," McCrystal says. She notes, too, that the Lahaina fires destroyed many businesses, grocers and beaches frequented by those in Ka'anapali, limiting the local options. "It has changed the lifestyle for sure," she says. Ka'anapali is largely car-dependent, but there are some transit options for those who don't want to drive. Visitors get around the resort area using the free Ka'anapali Trolley, and the shuttle between Ka'anapali and Lahaina runs all day. The shuttle stops at the Lahaina Cannery, a small mall where the Safeway is located and one of the developments to survive the Maui fires in Lahaina. The Maui Bus also takes residents across the island from Ka'anapali on the Lahaina Villager and West Maui Express lines. Kapalua Airport, a small regional airport, is just outside Ka'anapali. Most major flights, however, come in from Kahului Airport, about 28 miles away from Ka'anapali. Students in Ka'anapali may attend King Kamehameha III Elementary, which earned a B grade from Niche. The Elementary School, which overlooked the ocean from Front Street, was destroyed in Maui's August 2023 wildfires. A temporary school just south of Kapalua Airport finished construction in March 2024, and students began classes in the location in April 2024. Although a definitive timeline has yet to be established for reconstructing a permanent school building, the school expects to be in the temporary location for three to five years. Older students progress to C-plus-rated Lahaina Intermediate School and B-minus-rated Lahainaluna High School, which both survived the fires. Other students may attend Maui Preparatory Academy, an A-plus-rated private school serving kindergarten through 12th grade.